Ranch Talk

[dmount]

If you've read Kit Pharo's recent newsletter he raises some good points on cow size.
It is available here:
http://www.pharocattle.com/Jan_Feb_2008.pdf

If I remember correctly from my college nutrion courses body weight to the 3/4 power is the number to compare enenrgy requirements of ruminants.

a 1400 lb cow to the 3/4 power is 229
a 1100 lb cow to the 3/4 power is 191

Therefore the 1400 lb cow would require 17 % more nutrients.

Assume the 1400 lb cow would wean a 600 lb calf and the 1100 lb cow would wean a 500 lb calf that is worth 10 cents more per lb.

1400 lb cow = $630 gross income
1100 lb cow = $575 gross income
or 9% difference in gross income.

looks like the smaller cow is still the better deal.

I'd be interested to hear other opinions.
_________________
Dallas Mount
University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service
Southeast Area Livestock Extension Educator
57 Antelope Gap Rd
Wheatland, WY 82201
307-322-3667
dmount@uwyo.edu
http://plattecountyextension.com

[IluvABbeef]

And of course cow size is to do with the available forage that you have on your ranch.

There was something similar to that in Beef Cattle Science by Ensminger that I'll have to dig out and look at....

[IluvABbeef]

Ah, here we are.

Some quotes to note are:

"Cow size must be considered as it relates to the production efficiency of the cow herd as well as the gain and finishing qualities of the progeny."

Thus, some factors that should be considered when choosing between large, medium, and small cattle:

1. Plane of nutrition and fertility. "Unless a cow's maintenance requirements are met, fertility will suffer. Thus, the genetic capabilities of the cow should match the available feed. Translated into practicality, this means that the better the pasture or range (or supplemental feeding), the bigger the cow; or conversely, the sparser the range, the smaller the cow.

2. Plane of nutrition and milk production. "Milking ability is positively correlated with weaning weight of calves. Hence, suckling calves should recieve adequate milk. But cows milk to their genetic potential only after their nutritional needs for body maintenance are met. This means that the size cow should match the available feed on the pasture or range. Small cows will milk better on poorer ranges than big cows."

3. Rapid gains of progeny. "Large cows pass greater growth potential, or more rapid gains, to their progeny than small cows. This is a major reason why the exotics have become so popular."

4. Labour costs. "Under most conditions, the labour costs for handling larger cattle with their greater pounds are no greater than for the smaller ones."

5. Relative price of feed and cattle. "Relatively lower feed costs and high cattle prices tend to favor big cattle, whereas the reverse conditions favor small cattle."

6. Weaning vs. Market weight on progeny. "Big cows and little cows differ very little on the basis of calf produced at weaning. But on the basis of progeny carried to market weight (steers 1000 lbs or more), big cows are definately more profitable than small cows."

7. Market weight. "Heavy market weights (steers weighing around 1200 lbs) favor big cattle. On the other hand, where the consumers desire high quality but smaller cuts of meat, the situation may favor the production of smaller cattle."

8. Salvage value. "The greater salvage value of big cows than of small cows may offset their greater maintenance cost."

9. Estimating production efficiency of cows of various sizes. "The two most important factors determining what size beef cow to keep are (a) the weight of the calf weaned, and (b) the total feed required to produce a weaner calf. Of course, the price of each of these is variable."

"Also bear in mind that light calves generally sell at a higher price per pound than heavy calves. This too, favors small cows."

[stetson]

Feed efficency is as important If it takes 8.3 pounds of feed for a small cow to gain a pound.
and a larger cow gains a pound on 4.6, what will fit in your program?
Feed efficency is 40% heritable. Get a feed efficent Bull and raise your profits